NATO Chief Rasmussen indeed recorded private conversation with Putin

Danish news agency Ritzaus Bureau confirmed that during a private conversation between Vladimir Putin at Anders Fogh Rasmussen a recording device was used. The meeting between Putin and Rasmussen was held in Brussels in 2002 , when Denmark was presiding over the European Union.

On April 17th, Russian President Vladimir Putin, during his annual Q&A televised communication with the nation, expressed outrage that NATO's sitting Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen, during his tenure as the Prime Minister of Denmark, recorded and subsequently published a personal conversation with Putin.

"He asked me about the meeting, it was not planned. I agreed, and we met and talked. It then turned out that he took a voice recorder and secretly recorded our conversation, and then published it in the media, - said Putin. - I could not believe my ears and eyes. What utter nonsense!"

According to Putin, Rasmussen explained the incident by saying that he allegedly recorded the conversation "for history."

"I'm flattered, of course, but he had to at least warn me. Or at least ask for permission to publish those talks, - said Putin. - What confidence can there be after such incidents?"

Later, special adviser to NATO's Secretary General, Jonas Torp, refuted the information. "These accusations are totally absurd. Throughout his tenure as the Prime Minister, Anders Fogh Rasmussen had never had a voice recorder to record the talks with Mr. Putin or anyone else."

Meanwhile, journalist Christopher Guldbrandsen, who in 2002 filmed the documentary "Fogh Behind the Scenes," told Ritzaus Bureau news agency that he personally, during a press conference, fixed a microphone on the clothing of the Prime Minister of Denmark. According to him, after the press conference, Mr. Anders Fogh Rasmussen went to meet with the Russian president, without removing the mic. The journalist confirmed that the conversation was recorded and used in the film. "It only happened because I attached the microphone at a press conference," admitted Guldbrandsen, stressing that Rasmussen usually pays close attention to not having a microphone in such situations.